A nice paycheck and a memorable way to close the books on the 2014 auto racing season in the state will be up for grabs on Sunday afternoon at Unity Raceway when the annual extended-lap Keystone Automotive Long John 114 Late Model race will be held.
The Long John will cap a busy weekend of racing in Unity.
Saturday’s card will include the Legends cars, Outlaws, Street Stocks, Super Stock Enduros and the Teen Thunder classes, while Sunday’s program will include the Monsta’ Minis, Mod Enduros and the Wicked Good Vintage Racing Association cars before the Long John 114 caps the weekend.
Racing on Saturday begins at 3 p.m., and Sunday’s card starts at 2 p.m.
The winner of Sunday’s Long John race will pocket $2,500, and there also will be lap money.
There will be a 15-minute competition caution at the halfway point of the Long John so race teams can make adjustments to their cars.
Several former Long John winners are expected to be in the field, including four-time victor Jeff Burgess of Fairfield, 2012 champ Brenton Parritt of Steuben and 2010 titlist Andy Saunders of Ellsworth. Parritt, the Late Model points champion at Hermon’s Speedway 95, won last weekend’s 150-lap race 95.
“There’s a bunch of guys who could win it, but my pick would be Jeff Burgess, who won the last one,” said track owner Ralph Nason. “There should be some good racing.”
Nason said in order to take the checkered flag, the drivers will need to exhibit some patience for the first two-thirds of the race.
“But you can’t just sit back. You’ve got to run 90-98 percent all the way. You can’t expect to be able to come out of the middle or the back of the pack late in the race unless you have new tires. You have to race your tail off, but you also have to keep yourself calm,” said Nason.